Vienna Padel Open: Dreamless for the Austrians
Dreams come true at the Vienna Padel Open in the STEFFL Arena (June 5th to 12th). Christoph Krenn and David Alten have already achieved their big goal by participating in the main competition using a wild card. The draw gave the two Viennese another reason to be happy: they will be dealing with a former number 1 at their premiere.
by p.m
last edit: Jun 03, 2022, 08:34 am
Juan Martin Diaz is one of the biggest names in padel sport. The 46-year-old Argentinian was number 1 in the world for 13 years and was able to win 170 tournaments. Together with compatriot Fernando Belasteguin, the Argentinian dominated the sport for years. Diaz is now number 28 in the world and plays with 20-year-old Spaniard Alejandro Arroyo. “Juan Martin Diaz is a living legend, he has dominated the sport for years. He's a superstar in Argentina and Spain," explains tournament director Dominik Beier.
At the Vienna Padel Open, the Austrians Krenn/Alten, who are in the main competition for the first time thanks to a wildcard, will face Diaz/Arroyo in the first round. Beier: "It's an absolute dream lot. Diaz is the grandmaster, Arroyo is his apprentice with great potential. But the two haven't been playing together for long, maybe a sensation is possible. One thing is certain: this is an ideal draw for the fans, you can cheer for the Austrians and at the same time look at the legs of one of the greats of this sport.”
For Krenn/Alten nothing changes in their goal. “We want to show a good match against the best in this sport. We are blatant outsiders, but we hope for many spectators in the hall to be able to enjoy a unique padel day in Austria," said the two.
Krenn and Alten in action on Wednesday
The Austrians' opening game will take place on Wednesday afternoon (June 8th) at around 5 p.m. on Center Court, with the STEFFL Arena set to shine in red-white-red. On "Austrian Day", if you buy three tickets, you get the fourth one for free, and with an Austria jersey, entry is free at all. (Tickets at www.wienticket.com)
Wednesday is the first day of the main competition. Right at the start, several top 10 duos for women and men start the tournament. The tickets are valid for the whole day, the seat is booked for the center court. With this ticket, fans can visit all other courts in both halls and don't miss any action.
The Vienna Padel Open will already start on Sunday (June 5th) with the pre-qualification. There are six Austrian duos (three women, three men) at the start. At 4 p.m., Niklas Schmutz and Tom Grubmiller will open the action from a red-white-red perspective, followed by the women on Monday (June 6). Admission to the pre-qualifiers and qualifying from Sunday to Tuesday is free.